Artists from Iran, India and Japan will also be present to showcase the artistic diversity of Asia. This is the 13th edition of the “Festival musiques et danses d’Asie” in collaboration with the Chinese Garden of the Botanical Garden of Montreal, and the Chinese Garden Society of Montreal, Dates are: Thursday, July 7 until Sunday, July 10, 2011.

It is with great pleasure that we present Mehfil, a two-hour long Hindustani classical vocal and Kathak dance recital that features Indian classical vocal rendition by Anjana Nath of Kolkata, accompanied by Pankaj Mishra on sarangi, and a solo Kathak recital by Sudeshna Maulik with live accompaniment by the aforementioned guest artists and Montreal’s very own Shawn Mativetsky on tabla. Hailing from India, both Anjana Nath and Pankaj Mishra are extremely talented and highly acclaimed musicians. Mehfil is the outcome of a dynamic collaboration between Maulik and Nath, complemented beautifully by the musical expression of the sarangi and tabla. Mehfil will enchant the heart, by celebrating the beauty and the spirituality of Hindustani music and dance. The intimate interaction between the performers will uphold the traditional essence of the Indian art which considers dance (nritya), percussion (vadya), and vocal music (geet) as a unified identity – Sangeet.

Anjana Nath will sing Hindustani classical vocal comprised of Khayal, Thumri, and Bengali Raag-Pradhan (popular Bengali semi-classical songs popularized by Pt. Ajay Chakraborty), accompanied by sarangi player Pankaj Mishra. Sudeshna Maulik’s Kathak recital will revolve around Thumri, Dadra, and Kajri Chaturanga, from the semi-classical repertoire), sung by Ms. Nath. The Kathak performance will elaborate upon interpretations of the poetic content of the compositions, exploring the expressive elements in Kathak, and reflecting the unique character of Lucknow gharana Kathak and its concept of Bhav-Batana.

Sangeet Kala Kendra presents:

Mehfil -“THE COLOUR OF LIFE”

October 9,2010

co-produced by Maison de la culture Ahuntsic-Cartierville

It is with great pleasure that we present Mehfil, a two-hour long Hindustani classical vocal and Kathak dance recital that features Indian classical vocal rendition by Anjana Nath of Kolkatta, accompanied by Pankaj Mishra on sarangi, and a solo Kathak recital by Sudeshna Maulik with live accompaniment by the aforementioned guest artists and Montreal’s very own Shawn Mativetsky on tabla. Hailing from India, both Anjana Nath and Pankaj Mishra are extremely talented and highly acclaimed musicians.

Mehfil is the outcome of a dynamic collaboration between Maulik and Nath, complemented beautifully by the musical expression of the sarangi and tabla. Mehfil will enchant the heart, by celebrating the beauty and the spirituality of Hindustani music and dance. The intimate interaction between the performers will uphold the traditional essence of the Indian art which considers dance (nritya), percussion (vadya), and vocal music (geet) as a unified identity – Sangeet.

Dear Lovers & students of Kathak – To make this event successful pls attend the performance. Feel free to call me & e mail me for more details. Sangeet Kala Kendra is the initiative of kathak dancer Sudeshna Maulik and tabla player Shawn Mativetsky. Our goal is to spread awareness, knowledge and appreciation of Indian classical music and dance through teaching, workshops, and performances.

Sangeet Kala Kendra in collaboration with the Kabir Cultural Centre proudly presents
A magical evening, evoking the mystical beauty of the river Ganges , with sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez, one of the top sitar artists in India today. He will be accompanied by tabla player Sri Subhajyoti Guha, one of the great percussion maestros of India.

Maison de la culture Frontenac 2550, rue Ontario Est, Montréal

From the dawn of Indian civiliz ation, the mighty course of the River Ganges (Ganga in Hindi) shaped and nourished the cultural, artistic, and spiritual identity of the people who lived along its bank. Soul of Ganges celebrates that essence through North Indian classical music and dance, invoking the mystical journey of the Ganges – beginning in the lofty heights of the Himalayas, abode of Lord Shiva, continuing its path through the sacred city of Varanasi , and culminating in the ocean.

Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan is privileged with both belonging to an illustrious musical family, and for achieving success in not only preserving the tradition but in pushing its boundaries to even greater heights of aesthetic beauty. He is one of the most brilliant musical gems of the famous Etawah Gharana and belongs to the seventh generation of this musical lineage. His family has produced the most revered and influential figures in Hindusthani Classical Music including the likes of Sahabdad Khansahab, Imdad Khansahab, Enayet Khansahab, Waheed Khansahab and Vilayat Khansahab.

For Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, the sitar and self are identical entities, and music is not just a discipline but life itself – vibrating and pulsating and full of colour. The power of his music is most immediately encountered in the highly charged sound quality he conjures from his sitar and the sparkling intelligence that is the hallmark of his improvisatory music. By sheer precision and an astute artistic sense he has made for himself a place in the limitless, infinite universe of Indian Classical Music. As the Rajasthan Patrika once said –”After listening to Ustad Shahid Parvez, the future of Sitar is still bright after Pandit Ravi Shankarji.”

The evening will begin with a kathak dance recital by talented and dynamic dancer, Sudeshna Maulik,She is accompanied by Montreal-based tabla player (disciple of Pandit Sharda Sahai of the Varanasi tabla gharana).Shawn Mativetsky Sarod player, Raja Bhattacharya (disciple of Ustad Bidyut Khan) joins the ensemble.

We regret to announce that due to unavoidable circumstances, Pandit Kumar Bose (tabla) and Pandit Kushal Das (sitar), were unable to get their Canadian visa. Therefore, we had to make some changes to the final programme for our show on May 15. Fortunately, and to the delight of everyone, we now have the privilege of presenting the great sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez, accompanied by the amazingly talented Sri Subhajyoti Guha on tabla.

We apologize for making these last-minute changes, but please be assured that you will have a great time and enjoy this very special evening.

Sudeshna Maulik is fortunate to be the disciple of top dancers Pandit Birju Maharaj and Padmabhushan Kumudini Lakhia, and she has been accompanied by great maestros such as Pandit Anindo Chatterejee and Ustad Sabir Khan during her childhood Kolkata days.

I am happy to share with you a new review, it’s excerpted from the website narthaki.com I also want to thank Dr. Sunil Kothari for his generous review in this most prestigious publication.

Montreal-based Sudeshna Maulik had her initial training from her childhood in Kathak under Chitresh Das. Later on, she studied at Bharatiya Kala Kendra and then under Birju Maharaj at Kathak Kendra in Delhi and participated in several conferences gaining wide experience. She studied under Kumudini Lakhia to gain further understanding of Kathak, to imbibe the nuances, and imbue it with contemporary sensibilities. To the music composed by Atul Desai, she presented ‘Samanvay,’ literally meaning a coming together of the lyrical and the emphatic movement of Kathak in a seamless manner.

Her chakkars and footwork had authority. The stance had Kumudini Lakhia’s school, the constume complimented the movements, the padhant, the recitation of mnemonic syllables of Kathak was clear and full of texture. She created a favourable impression winning rounds of applause for the flawless chakkars and clean execution of nritta movements. Canada has now a dancer of merit in Kathak and from whatever one saw on that evening, doubtless Sudeshana is bound to make a name for herself.

Dr. Sunil Kothari

Dr. Sunil Kothari, dance historian, scholar, author, is a renowned dance critic, having written for The Times of India group of publications for more than 40 years. He is a regular contributor to Dance Magazine, New York. Dr. Kothari is a globetrotter, attending several national, international dance conferences and dance festivals. He has to his credit more than 14 definitive works on Indian classical dance forms. Kothari was a Fulbright Professor and has taught at the Dance Department, New York University; has lectured at several Universities in USA, UK, France, Australia, Indonesia and Japan. He has been Vice President of World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific (2000-2008) and is Vice President of World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific India chapter, based in New Delhi. A regular contributor to http://www.narthaki.com, Dr Kothari is honored by the President of India with the civil honor of Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi award.